Wat Chiang Man

Built in 1296, by King Mengrai, Wat Chiang Man is typical of Lanna temples, with a large and small viharn facing the compound entrance, a bot to the left and a chedi behind the two viharn. There’s also a scripture library on stilts over a small pond at the rear of the compound.

The most important contents of the temple are housed in the small viharn (to the right as you enter the compound). The larger of the two, Phra Sila (or Stone Buddha), is a stone bas-relief which was imported from either India or Sri Lanka around 2,500 years ago. Its smaller counterpart, Phra Sae Tang Kamani (or Crystal Buddha), stands to a height of only around 10cm and is thought to have originally come from Lopburi around 1,800 years ago.

The Phra Sila image is believed to have the power to bring rain, while the Phra Sae Tang Kamani image, which once survived a fire, is thought to have the power to protect against disaster.

The murals in the larger viharn are also worth a close look. These were added recently and unlike most temple murals with a range of vibrant colors, those here, which reflect typical Lanna scenes, are executed exclusively in red and gold.

The chedi chang lom, which you could easily miss if you don’t walk round the back, is a fine example of a Lanna-style stupa, with a ring of elephants guarding its base and a sparkling gold cap pointing heavenward.

Another important feature of Wat Chiang Man is an inscribed stone, now located in front of the bot, which dates back over 400 years and is the first known reference to the city’s founding.

Because Wat Chiang Man receives lots of visitors, there are lots of hangers-on here and you should be on your guard against scams. You’ll likely be offered the chance to release some birds from a bamboo cage for a small fee, which the vendors insist is good karma and will bring you good luck. Feel free to participate in this very Thai form of merit-making, though some cynics say these birds are trained to return to their owners as soon as the merit maker has gone.